Capone wrote:
This is insane.  Thanks for the feedback guys.  Basically, what you're saying is, if you work on your own, everything falls on your shoulders, there's no pension (unless you start saving - likely not much) and if/when it hits the fan, you're doomed. 

I think it depends where you are when you decide to go out on your own and the field you practice in. When I went out, I had only been earning pretty lousy money at the SA's office. I had a good job and savings in Canada pre-law school, but my savings covered my time in law school. I came out debt free but penniless. I started the practice the same way. So there wasn't any cushion to bring in help.

A friend of mine from the SA's office went out on his own recently. He had much more money saved and was able to hire a firm to do his books and financial stuff (cheaper than a full-time employee) and use one of those virtual office places for his infrastructure. So he's probably in better shape than many.

I think some of the problems old-timers face is that they may have always done things a certain way and are reluctant to adopt some of the services/technologies that exist now to make life easier.

Though I was never suspended (or in any danger of being suspended) we made lots of mistakes that could have been very bad. If you're asking because you want to go out on your own, PM me and I'll walk you through the innumerable disasters we narrowly avoided so you can avoid them too.

Free the LB4!